Chiang Rai’s Mae Suai Reservoir Continues to Deplete Due to Lack of Rain

The dam currently has 37 million cubic meters of water

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CHIANG RAI – Water in the Mae Suai dam has continued to deplete due lower rain compared to the previous year. The dam currently has 37 million cubic meters of water, which is only sufficient for household consumption and not enough to feed over 100,000 rai of farmland along the Lao River. After the harvesting season, Chiang Rai’s irrigation department will urge farmers to resort to more water-efficient crops.

Various provinces across the country are coping with this year’s severe drought with water-efficient projects and economic relief policies.

In Uttaradit province, Governor Surasak Chareornsirichot visited Thong Saen Khan district to inspect the construction of check dams in the subdistricts of Phak Khuang, Nam Phi and Pa Kai that will be designed retain water during the drought season. Currently, 24,927 rai of farmland in four subdistricts of Thong Saen Khan are affected by the drought.

In Sukhothai province, the local Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives has announced measures to assist drought-affected residents in nine districts, in accordance with Cabinet resolutions to provide debt-extension schemes and loans for local businesses.